Grain unloader for trucks and the like



Aug. 19, 1952 J.-E..4.SENSTOGK GRAIN UNLOADER FOR TRUCKS A'NDTHE LIKE Filed Oct. 10, 1949 INVENTOR. John E. Sen stock ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1952 .;UN,ITEDYSTIATES PATENT OFFICE" GRAIN UNLOADER FOR TRUCKS AND THE LIKE John Senstock, Amherst, Colo. Application October 10, 1949, Serial No. 120,560 4 Claims. 01. 19s 2s3) This invention relates to a wheel mounted portable grain auger that is detachably supported by an adjustable frame which may be utilized to vary the position of the auger.

Many different types of grain augers have been devised previously; however most all of the grain angers previously designed or manufactured have been used to elevate grain from a low point of reception to a higher point of discharge. The auger to be disclosed is adapted for the special purpose of moving grains out of truck beds, grain storage bins and. the like by drawing the grain horizontally along the truck bed or floor of the grain bin. Accordingly the present device maybe used in conjunction with other types of elevating mechanisms as afeed auger. When correctly positioned, the auger of this invention will move the grain out of the truck bed or grain bin and discharge the grain into the feed hopper of any other suitable type loading mechanism or upon the auger-supporting ground. Though constructed for special purposes, the auger of the present invention will have many uses and will be of considerable utility inasmuch as it is designed to be light in weight and readily portable;

' In devising the present grain auger it has been one object of the inventor to provide a mechanism of economical construction adapted to move grain or other similar products horizontally along the grain supporting surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lightweight grain auger adapted to move materials horizontally along their supportingsurface that may be readily positioned for use at adjusted elevations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wheel mounted support frame for grain augers that may be adjusted to raise orlower the grain auger to a proper position of use.

Another object of this invention is to provide an auger supporting stand in which all of the support membersthereof are adjustable to vary the length of the members.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation in partial section showing the general arrangement of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation further showing the features of this invention. 1

Fig. 3 is'a cross section taken'along the lines 3'-3 of Fig. l; r

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken along lines 45-4 of Fig. 1; and l Fig. 5 is an elevation of a separate type of auger support. I

Briefly stated the present invention provides a grain auger the screw flights of which are disposed along a horizontal axis suitably supported by bearing members atthe ends thereof. The auger screw is driven by a power unit having the power drive member thereof in alignment with a drive member attached to said screw. The innerextremity or delivery end of the auger is enclosed within a box-like structure which provides an opening in the downwardly disposed face thereof for the delivery of grain. The outer orpickup end of the auger is only partially enclosed by means of a substantially semi-circular shield member which provides the outer bearing support and which is utilized to crowd the grain being moved. In a preferred-form, the entire auger is detachably supported by a a wheel mounted frame the members of which are all extensible so that the length thereof can "be changed in accordance with the particular 're-' quirements of the user. In addition to the regular adjustable wheel mounts, the inventor further provides a telescoping post support which may be engaged with the auger.

Referring now to the drawings the relation of the separate elements of this invention is best shown in Fig. 1, wherein it will be noted that screw flights I l are welded or otherwise attached to a longitudinal shaft l2 which is received in bearing members I3. The bearings l3 are themselves supported by members which enclose or partially enclose the'fiights H. The rear bearing [3a is suitably supported by a box-like delivery section M. This delivery section [4 is of substantially square cross section as shown in Fig. 3 and it is made up of side pieces it which are preferably of metal construction. The downwardly disposed face of the delivery section M is partially open as shown in Fig. 3 to provide an opening l1 through which the grain may be delivered downwardly to a position of final rest on the ground or into the hopper of a separate typ of grain handling equipment. The outer extremity of the shaft 12 is supported by the bearing l3b which is'itself 'supported by a shield member N3 of substantially semi-circular cross section. Actually the shield I8 is provided with an end member l9 upon which the bearing 13b is mounted. The shield I3 is of such size and shape as to closely encircle about one-half of the circular extent of the flights ll while the remaining portion of the circular extent of the flights l l are exposed so that they may be placed in direct engagement with grain or other materials that are to be moved by the grain I auger. While Fig. 4 shows the shield member encircling only the one-half of the flights ll disposed to one side of a vertical line through the axis of the shaft [2, it is possible to rotate the shield I8 so that any other portion of the flight Il may be covered by the shield l8. This selective positioning of the shield I8 is possible since the shield is mounted for rotation and reciprocation within the delivery section l4.

Since rotation of the shield l8 from they position as shown in Fig. 4 could expose the screw flights ll directly to the grain supporting floor, hoop members I9 are attached to the shield at spaced points to maintain the screw flight I I ina position out of contact with the grain supporting floor (not shown).

In order to rotate the shaft l2 and thereby to move any grain in contact with the flightsl l toward the delivery section M, a pulley member 2| is connected to the shaft I2. The pulley or drive member 22 of. a motive power unit 23 is aligned with the pulley 2i and the members 2|- and' 22 are interconnected by means of a' belt 24"or the like in suchmanner that rotation of the drive member 22'causes rotation of the pulley 2! and thereby the shaft 12. In the embodiments shown the motive power unit 23 is an electric motor which is mounteddirectly upon the upper face lB'of thedelivery section 14. For use where elec-. trical power is not available it will be apparent thatja gasoline engine or the like may likewise be mounted upon the upper face l of the delivery sectionto provide the necessary motive power.

While the auger of this'invention may be used without providing further support for the delivery section l4'or the other members of the auger, it is sometimes desirable to have the auger mounted on a supporting frame. However, when the device is being used to move grain materials out of a low grain bin or the like, a frame sup portis often unnecessary, accordingly any supportmembers to be provided should, be readily detachable from the auger. The present inventor has devised both a wheel mounted frame support and. a stationaryframe support which are sepae ratelyuseful when the auger of this'invention is being used in different ways. The first and preferred form of mounting utilizes forward and rear extension members 26 and 21 respectively which arepivotally attached to the deliverysece tion 14, at opposite sides I 6 of the delivery section by-meansjof removable pins 28. Extension mem-. bers 25 and 27 further interconnect the sides l6 of thedelivery section l4 with an extensibleaxle ZQupon which wheels 3| are mounted to provide wheeled'support for the auger.

When the foregoing-typeof frame supportis used the vertical position of the auger may be changed by changing the amount of: elongation ofthe-extension members 26 and2'l. In order to change the length: of these members the set screws 32 are loosened, the members are shortened or extended as desired and the set screws areagainengaged tohold the auger in the desired position; Besides providing for the extension' of the support members 26 and 21, the inventor likewise provides for the extension of; the axle 29. I his feature isprovided so that the wheels}! can be positioned'to straddle a hopper or other grain'reoeiving member while still providing full support for the auger.

A separatetypeof support as shown in Fig. 5 is pm icledfor altern t us This support comprises a telesc ping s and. mad up a ba e 36; an upri ht tubular member 3T, asecond tubue lar member 38 of smaller diameter for telescoping" reception in the tubular member 37, and a lock screw 39 for holding the member 38 in adjusted position. The upper end 4| of the tubular member 38 is adapted for engagement in the cylindrical socket 42 attached to the opposite sides l6 of the delivery section [4 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A cylindrical shaped socket42 is provided with an upper cap 43 which engagesthe upper end 4| of the tube 38 to provide support for the delivery end of the auger. When this type of support is used the outer or pickup end of the auger is necessarily supported by a truck bed or grainery floor.

The particular design for an auger which has been described has several other advantages not previously mentioned inasmuch as standard parts can be used to provide a number of styles of augers having different capacities. For example, if it is desired to provide an auger with a longer reach thanordinar'y, it is only necessary in most instances to provide a longer shaft with the screw flightmaterial'thereon since the shield itself may be adjusted through a limited range to provide the needed elongation. If a still longer auger is desired, a separate screw and separate shield need only be provided since for all installations the delivery section andsupport members are the same.

When'a long auger is'desired it is often advisable to provide a central bearin support 'for the auger to preventundue vibration or whiplash of the shaft l2. A means for providing such support is shown in Fig. 1 where it will be noted that a bearing member 44 adapted to give full circle support to the shaft I2 is supported in the delivery section I4 by. a support member 46 secured to the bottom of the delivery section. Where-a bearingis used, it is necessary to interrupt the flight on the shaft I2. However the grain ismoved past the bearing without undue obstruction. As a further modification the sock, ets 42 may be arranged to telescope similarly to the telescoping arrangement of the stand 34 to provide for additional elevation of the auger.

While separate embodiments of this invention have beenshown and described, it will beapparent that the present invention is adaptable to many differentmodifications and changes. All such modifications and changesas are within the scope of the hereunto appended claims are deemed to be a part of this invention.

7 I claim:

1. A portable grain auger comprising a boxlike enclosure having a downwardly disposed dis. charge opening therein, a substantially semicylindrical shield supported by said enclosure for reciprocal and-rotational movement; in the enclosure, a bearing member at one end of said enclosure; a second bearingmember at an end of said shield opposite said first bearing, a, shaft rotatab y. m unted between said bearings havin screw flights thereon, hoop members on saidshield encircling, the screw flights for keeping said flight ut of con act with the grain supporting floor, a drive member on one end of saidshaft, a motive power unit mounted on said enclosure having a. drivemember thereof in driving en? easement with said shaft drive member whereby the shaft is rotated to. deliver materials longitudinally from theareaadiacent .the shield to-the discharge opening, and support members for maintainigthe discharge end of, said anger at adjusted elevations above the sup'porting'ground.

2, Structure-in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support members are adaptedfor tele- 5 scoping adjustment to maintain the discharge end of said auger at the desired elevation above the ground. 2

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support members include outwardly extending members on the sides of said box-like enclosure, telescoping members for engagement with said outwardly extending members for maintaining the discharge end of said auger at adjusted elevations above the supporting ground, and set screws for supporting said telescoping members in their adjusted positions.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support members include telescoping axle members providing a wheel amount, forward and rear extension members pivotally attached to said support members and said axle, and set aema 6 screws for holding said axle and extension members in adjusted positions.

JOHN E. SENSTOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

